Method and apparatus for rapid refrigerating and handling of foods



April 1, 1941. w FINNEGAN 2,237,257

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet l 27 grwe/wto'o April 1, 1941. w F|NNEGAN 2,237,257 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1959 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 are April 1941- w. J. FINNEGAN 2.237.257

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 12Sheets-Sheet 3 1/ i A i i 4/; M E 79 MkQFMZiJ/EZK? i 1 I f4 79 I I I April 9 1- w. J. FINNEGAN 2.237.257 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 i l 73 I a i4 3% g 3mm hzz llz'amll'zhnegan April 1, 1941. w. J. FINNEGAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 .lllllll/ J z'zmeym April 1941- w. J. FINNEGAN 2.237.257

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 l? SheetsSheet-6 April 1941- I w. J. FINNEGAN 2,237,257

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. l, 19359 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 lVz l/z am fi'nnegan April 1, 1941. w. J. FINNEGAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 vllfllllllllll/A April 1941. w. J. FINNEGAN 2.237.257

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1959 12 Sheets-Sheet Ap 1941- w. J. FINNEGAN 2.237.257 I METHOD AND APPARATUS. FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF. FOODS Filed Feb. l, 1939 l2 Sheets-Sheet l0 u ST April 1, 1941. w. J. FINNEGAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 b D p b v r zmegwz April 1941- w. J. FINNEGAN I 2.237.257

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAPID REFRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF FOODS Filed Feb. 1, 1939 v 12 sheets sheet 12 22a 222 1: 9, 24, 816 2/6 awe/whom Patented Apr. 1, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS. FOR mm 315- FRIGERATING AND HANDLING OF roons William J. Finnegan, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 1, 1939, Serial No. 254,110

24 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the method and apparatus for rapid refrigerating and handling of foods, being directed to the further developments of the method and apparatus, the forms of which are shown and described in my co-pending application entitled Method and apparatus for multistage freezing of comestibles, filed October 11, 1937, Serial No. 168,507.

The primary objects of the invention reside in improvements in the method and apparatus to provide eflicient handling facilities for freezing various kinds of food in a manner best suited to care for commercial requirements, to provide means forcontrolling the physical condition of the heat transferring vehicles used for freezing, to provide for adequate and economical precooling of the foods before freezing and suitable tem pering of the frozen foods before storage, to provide effective means for the accumulation of frost on the refrigerants heat transferring surfaces without materially effecting the volume or pressure of the recirculated air used for freezing,

to provide an effective means for distributing the v recirculated air and to provide an arrangement whereby the recirculated air is confined within the food freezing compartments in a manner which prevents any warm or non-refrigerated outside air from entering the recirculated air system.

When foods are frozen in the presence of air at temperatures above minus 40 F., it is well known that the evaporation of moisture from such foods causes a considerable loss of weight in saleable product, damages the appearance of the finished frozen product and creates numerous other undesirable conditions. I have found that this evaporation can be greatly reduced by suitable control of the mean and aver-.

so treated, and to improve the appearance of such foods.

With the above and other objects in viewthat will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel method, form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and 1A are match line top plan views of a refrigerating apparatus with top casing removed to better show the arrangement of the refrigerating tube, heat transferring surfaces and connections.

'Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section part side view on line |-l of the refrigerating apparatus shown'in Figure 1, showing arrangement of refrigerant heat transferring surfaces and refrigerant connections.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section part end view on line 22 of the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figure 1, showing arrangement of refrigerating tube, heat transferring surfaces and refrigerant connections.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figure 1, showing the method of air circulation with two or more fans.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of another form of refrigerating apparatus with top casing removed to better show the arrangement of the refrigerating tubes, heat transferring surfaces and connections.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section part side view on line 3-3 of the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figure 5, showing refrigerant connections. v

Figure '7 is a vertical cross-section end view on line 4-4 of the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figure 5, showing arrangement of freezing tubes, refrigerant heat transferring surfaces, fan, re-

frigerant connections and refrigerant accumulator.-

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the form of apparatus shown in Figure 5, with a single freezing tube and shows the method of air circulation, food freezing adaptors shown in Figures 24 and 25, with end bafiles forming the mul-- adaptor for accommodating cans with foods for freezing; and is to be used in conjunction with the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figures l, 4, 5 8, and9.

Figure llis an end elevation of the adaptor shown in Figure 10, facilities;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical cross-section part side view on line 6-6 of the adaptor shown in Figure 10, showing details of can feeding end;

Figure 13 is a vertical cross-section end view on line 66 of the adaptor shown in Figure 10, showing the details, of can handling facilities;

Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical cross-section part side view on line 'I-l of the adaptor shown in Figure 10, showing details of air baiiles forming the freezing compartments;

Figures 15 and 15A are part sectional views, on line 8-3, of another form of freezing tube adaptor for accommodating trays with foods for freezing, and is to be used in conjunction with the refrigeratingapparatus shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9;

Figure 16 is an enlarged vertical cross-section part side view on line 9-9 of the adaptor shown in Figure 15, showing method of Joining the two sections of the adaptor when used in conjunction with the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figures 1, 4, and 9;

Figure 17 is an end elevation of the adaptor shown in Figure 15, showing the tray feeding facilities;

Figure 18 is an enlargedvertical cross-section part side view on line ia-la of the adaptor shown in Figure 15, showing details of tray feeding end;

showing the can feeding- 4 heat transfer surfaces have extended metal fin surfaces 26 forming air partition baiiles and extended metal fin surfaces 26 forming coil supports and partition baflles. Coils and fin surfaces are preferably galvanized by the hot process after fabrication to insure good bond between the fln surfaces and coils. Refrigerant accumulator 20 is fitted with a welded gas outlet pipe connecpreferably made of galvanized sheet metal is I riveted and soldered to the structural steel framing 29, and II, so as to provide a hermetically sealed casing which encloses the apparatus and forms the air distributing ducts 32 and 33, return Figure 19 is a vertical crosssectionend view on line 20-24: of the adaptor shown in Figure15, showing the arrangement of side air bailles and compartment air baffles;

Figure 20 is an enlarged vertical cross-section part side view on line 311-311 of the adaptor shown in Figure 15, showing details of side air baffles and compartment air baffles;

Figure 21 is a vertical cross-section end view on line la-la of the adaptor shown in Figure 15, showing the arrangement of food agitators;

Figure 22 is a top plan view of a food freezing tr y;

Figure 231s an enlarged vertical cross-section part end view on line int-5a of the food tray shown in Figure 22, showing construction details.

Figure 24 is a side elevation view of another form of freezing tube adaptor for accommodating trays with food for freezing, and is to be used in conjunction with the refrigerating apparatus shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9;

Figure 25 is an end elevation view of the freezing tube adaptor shown in Figure 24.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a rectangular shaped refrigerating tube It formed by refrigerant heat transferring surfaces ii and I2, sheet metal housing i3 and flooring i4. surfaces Ii and i2 may be made and formed of any suitable materials as by continuous bent and welded steel pipe coils IS with extended sheet metal fin surfaces l6 and fitted with refrigerant liquid supply pipe connections I1, and refrigerant gas return connections I 8. For operating the refrigerant coils under a flooded condition the refrigerant liquid and gas connections may be connected to the refrigerantliquid recirculating pipes II which have top outlets intothe refrigerant accumulator 26, bottom defrosting connections 23 with stop valve 24, and refrigerant liquid float control feed valves 2| with connections and stop valve 22. Allconnections preferably of welded construction. The refrigerant The refrigerant heat transferring air ducts 34 joining air inlets of air recirculating fan 35. Where metal housing joins concrete floor between channels 23 the metal extends into a groove in floor and the groove is filled with hot asphalt as required to seal the joint air tight. Internal air distributing ducts 36, fan discharge duct 31, air splitter 36 and air flow baffles 39 are also made of sheet metal and of riveted and soldered construction. Air splitter 38 is fitted with a hinged air regulating damper 40 which is operated by shaft extending through the top metal housing i3. The recirculating fan 35 has an extended shaft and flexible coupling II for connection to an electric motor or other suitable means for driving the fan. Where shaft passes through the return air duct 34 a gland seal 42 is provided as required to prevent air from entering the recirculating air system. T iron 43 is preferably welded to cross T's 28 and track guide angle irons 44 are similarly welded to cross channel irons 26 for the reception and guiding of the adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 25. The pit 45 preferably constructed of concrete and located in the concrete floor M at the receiving end of the apparatus is provided to accommodate any conventional pusher type conveyor 46 which is shown in phantom and in conjunction with Figures 24 and 25. Removable type drip pans 41 are located under the heat transferring surfaces II and I2, also under connections ",1", [9, 2|, 22 and 23 as required to catch and accumulate water drip during the defrosting operation. Pans 41 may be made of galvanized sheet iron, shaped and formed as required to fit the spaces between the T irons 21. The food feeding and harvesting ends of the freezing tube III are fitted with freezer type insulated doors 46 with door frames 49 which have angle iron sills set in the concrete floor l4 and supported on top and sides by the welded structural steel frame ill. Each door frame 49 has an internal frame 6| extending around top and two sides for accommodating the adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 21. The air circulating baflles 25 and 26 form separate recirculated air cooling stages 52 to 61. Baffles 26 and 26 in conjunction with the adaptors with air battles shown in Figures 10 to 25 form food precooling compartment 66 with air cooling surfaces 631: and 68b, food freezing compartments 63 to I6, food tempering compartment II with air cooling surfaces 11a and 'i'lb and'compartment for refrigerant connections 18. All compartments being indicated by cross lines in phantom. All external surfaces of the apparatus including the bottom side of concrete floor has suitable insulation 18 as required to reduce heat leakage to a minimum. The insulation may be made and applied in any adequate way asof sheet cork applied in hot asphalt with external finish of waterproof asphalt mastic. Attention-is directed to a difference in the spacing of fin surfaces I8 in the. recirculated air cooling stages 52, 54, 56 and 58 also in precooling compartment 68. The importance of this arrangement will be hereinafter fully described. It will also be noticedthat the return bends of coils I have been, omitted in Figure 3 to more clearly show the arrangement of refrigerant connections.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a rectangular shaped refrigerating tube arranged and constructed in the same manner and of identical materials hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings Figures 1,

. 2 and 3, with provisions and arrangement shown for operating the apparatus with two or more fans and two or more refrigerant supply and return connections, the important advantages gained bythis arrangement will be hereinafter fully described. Air recirculating fans 88 and 8| have independent and separate air recirculating systems, and may be driven .by direct connection to motor 82 as shown or other convenient and suitable means. Fan shafts 83 may extend to and drive other fans with separate recirculating air systems when required. Refrigerant liquid supply connections 84, defrosting connections 85 and refrigerant liquid recirculating pipes 86 serve the recirculated air cooling stages 52 to 58 and the food precooling compartment 68. Refrigerant liquid supply connections 8'I, defrosting connections 88 and refrigerant liquid recirculating pipes 88 serve the recirculated aircooling stages 68 to 61 and the food tempering compartment 11. The return refrigerant gas connections from the refrigerant liquid recirculating pipes 86 and 88 have independent outlets as shown and may be connection into separate refrigerant accumulators. Air regulating dampers 82a and 83a replace the air damper 48 shown in Figure 1. The

refrigerating tube of this apparatus is arranged to receive and is operated in conJunction with the adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 25.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 comprises two rectangular shaped refrigerating tubes 88 and 8|, formed and constructed in the same general manner and essentially of the same materials as hereinbefore described for the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, with minor provisions which may be used as an alternate construction .or arrangement in place of that which is herein described for the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The three banks of refrig-v erating surfaces have recirculating air baflles forming air cooling stages 82 to I83. The air baffles in conjunction with the adaptors shown m Figures 10 to 25 form food precooling compartments I84, I86, food freezing compartments I85 to H8 and food tempering compartments II4 and H5. The refrigerant connections provide for double coil feed and consist of liquid supply stop yalves and connections I I6, float controlled liquid feet valves III, liquid recirculating pipes III, liquid headers I I8, suction headers I28, defrosting valves and connections I2I, return gas connections I22 joining refrigerant accumulator I23 valve and connections I25 and gas outlet I26. Concrete foundations I21 which are pitched for drain are utilized to support refrigerant heat transferring surfaces and catch water drip during the defrosting. operation in' place of the'T irons 21 and drip pans 41 shown in Figure 2. Two angle irons I28 with guide space between are utilized for guiding the adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 25, in place of the T iron 48 shown in Figures 1 and 3. The insulated freezer doors including frames and internal adaptor frames located at the food feeding and harvesting ends of the refrigerating tubes 88 and 8i are of the same design and construction as hereinbefore described for doors 48, frames 48. supports 58 and internal frames 5I shown in Figure 1. In addition, conventional type metal clad automatic closing freezer doors I29 and I38 are shown in adaptor frame as required to accommodate adaptors shown in Figures 24 and 25 with trays shown in Figures 22 and 23 for one method of operation .as hereinafter described. The recirculated air damper I3I replaces and cares for the same function as damper 48 shown in Figure 1. Insulation I32 is of similar material and applied in the same manner as hereinbefore described for insulation I8 shown in Figures '1, 2 andu3. It will be noted that this form of the invention provides for cooling the food tempering compartment I I4 and I I5 with the exposed surfaces of the refrigerant connections. However it is obvious that additional heat transferring surface may be provided if required.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 8 comprises an arrangement similar to that shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 but utilizes only one-refrigerating tube. Air circulating baffles 26 form separate recirculated air cooling stages I33 to I48. Bailles 26 in conjunction with the adaptors with air baflles shown in Figures 10 to 25 form food precooling compartment I4I with air cooling surfaces Ia and lb, food freezing compartments I42 to I45 and food tempering compartment I46 with refrigerant connection for cooling air in the tempering compartment. Recirculated air regulating damper I41 is similar to and functions the same as damper I3I shown in Figure 5.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 9 embodies similar materials and construction as herein before described for the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 8, but provides an arrangement con- Q partments and refrigerant heat transferring sur- D faces, otherwise this apparatus is arranged and constructed similar to the apparatus described and shown in Figures 1 to 8, having recirculated air regulating baflles I62 and I63 which show their closed position in phantom lines I620, I62!) and I630. Refrigerating tubes I48 to I5I operate in conjunction with the adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 25, and may have food precooling and frozen food tempering compartments as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 18 to 14 which has internal liquid baflle I24, liquid drain sbowninFigures 1to9,andastructural steel frame consisting of top corner angle irons I64 with cm angles I55 and-top air directing plate I66, preferably of welded construction. Side angle irons I61 forming supports for top framing rest on bottom corner angle irons Eaoh of the cross channels I69 ing tube guide track angle irons 44 shown in Figures 1 to '7. Guide pieces I12 are welded to cross angles I65 .to .form a guide slot for the reception of guide tie 43 shown in Figures 1 and 3 or may .be formed as shown on adaptor Figures 24 and 25, which are operative with angle iron guides I28 shown in Figures and '7. Angle iron container guides I13 are supported by steel supporting strips I14. Angle iron container guides I15 are supported ;by side angles I61. Container guides I13 and I15 may be fastened "to supports by any convenient means as by welding or bolting. Supporting strip I14 is similarly fixed to cross angles I65 at top and to air directing plates I or cross channels I69 on bot-tom. The face of side angles I61 and one edge of supporting strips I14 have a compartment recirculating air baffle I16 which coincides with the recirculating air bailles 25 and 26 shown in Figures 1 to 9, and

thereby form the separate refrigerating compartments in the refrigerating tubes hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 8. Bailles I16 are preferably mad of sheet metal and fixed by any convenient means as by machine screws or welding, and fitted with flexible curtain type bellies I11 which contact the top of containers I18 to form an air seal at this point. Baflles I11 may be made of any flexible material as of rubberized cloth or flexible metal cloth and fixed by machine screws. It will be noted that the container angle iron guides I13 and I are placed in a vertical and horizontal spaced relation so as to prevent the derangement of any container. The angularity of the angle iron guides I13 and I15, as shown. in Figures 10 and 14, may be increased or decreased for various diameters of containers as required to cause the vertical center line of the container to coincide with the compartment recirculating air bafiies I16. The container feeding and harvesting ends of theadaptor are fitted with covers I19 which have apertures I80 for passage of the containers to and from :the adaptor. Covers I 19 are preferably made of wood or other material having a good insulating value and are suitably secured .to the adaptor by any convenient means as by screws which are fastened into cross angles I65, side angles I61 and bottom angle I8I. Apertures I95 have fiexible air seals I82 which permit passage of the containers, but contacts the surfaceof one container so as to form an air seal on container feeding and harvesting ends of the adaptor. Flexible seals I82 may be made of any suitable material as of composition rubber or canvas reinforced with spring metal and be fixed ures 15 to 21.

to covers by any convenient means, such as, wood screws with washersor with metal bearing plate.

other material having a good insulating value, and are smtably secured to covers by machinescrew studs IN which may have collars I35 for securing covers to adaptor frame as shown. Frames I33 have air sealing gaskets I86 which fit in contact with the internal adaptor frames 5| shown in Figures land 5. A separate wood filler strip (not shown) is-used at the bottom of frames I93 for contacting the concrete floor and sealing the space between the frames I33 andtheconcretefioor I4 showninFigures 14:03 and 5 to 7. Top ang e irons I65, side angle irons I61 and bottom angle irons I3I which form the ends of adaptor frame have lugs I81 preferably welded in place to strengthen the angle irons and accommodate the screw studs I84. Angle iron container guides I18 and I15 extend through cover I on the harvesting end of the adaptor one container in the centerof each compartment recirculating air .baflle I16 and by sliding the stop rods up in slots I89 ,to the rest-ing notch located in the top .of each slot, the end container in each horizontal row may be harvested from the refrigerating tube adaptor.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 15 to 21 is a refrigerating tube adaptor for handling and refrigerating foods placed on trays when used in conjunction with the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 9, and comprises a welded structural steel frame with top plate I66, bottom plate I10, wheels "I, guide pieces I12, end covers I19, air sealing frames I83 with screw studs I84 having collars I85, gaskets I06 and lugs I81, all of which are preferably of the same kind of material and of the same arrangement and construction as hereinbefore described in connection with the freezing tube adaptor shown in Figures 10 to 14. Food trays, similar to the tray shown in Figures 22 and 23, are used in the adaptor shown in Fig- Therefore, side angles I61 are fitted with tray guiding channel irons I9I, preferably fixed to side angles by welding. The face of side angles I61 have compartment recirculating air bailles I92 which coincide with the recirculating air baffles 25 and 26 shown in Figures 1 to 9, and thereby form the separate refrigerating compartment within the refrigerating tubes hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 8. Bailles I92 are preferably made of sheet metal and fixed by any suitable means as by machine screws or welding, and fitted with flexible curtain type air baflles I93 to form an air sea] with trays or produce. Flexible baffles I93 are fixed to bailles I92 by screws and made of similar material as hereinbefore specified for flexible baffles I11 shown in Figure 14. Covers I19 have apertures I96 forthe passage of trays 1 shown in Figures 22 and 23, which havefiexible curtain type air baflles I93 fixed to the-top of each aperture with screws and made of material similar to that specified for flexible bailles I11 shown in Figure 14. Tray guides I95 on feeding and harvesting ends of the adaptor are made of angle irons with angle iron strengthening frame I96 having bottom angle iron braces. I91 on feeding end and side braces I98 on harvesting end. Guides I95 are preferably fixed to side angles I61 by welding, with frame I96 and braces I91 and I98 similarly constructed. A space I99 is providadaptor shown in Figures to 14, and consists in initially constructing the adaptor in one section with two small metal bearing blocks 20!! and 2M which are fixed to side angle irons ii! in true face alignment by any suitable means as by bolting or welding and be arranged in contact with each other at the two top corners, two bottom corners and midway between the top and bottom corners on each side of the adaptor frame as shown. Each block to be drilled and reamed in position to fit a taper locating pin 202. which is fixed by a bolt or pin in block 200. The separate sections of the adaptor may then be formed by cutting the angle irons I64, I68 and container guides I13, I or tray guides l9| at point 203, by any convenient means asby sawing. When adaptor sections are joined the bearing, blocks 200 and 2M form the only lateral bearing points and the taper pins assure true alignment of the adaptor sections. In commercial freezing of peas, lima beans, berries and the like on trays it is known that such foods freeze tight to the trays. I have found that agitating or slightly moving such foods at certain stages of the freezing operation will prevent such foods from freezing to the trays and will discharge these foods from the apparatus in a separate and individual frozen condition. Therefore, food agitators 204 are provided and shown in Figures 15 and 21, which consists of a wire brush roller preferably made of stainless steel wire which is wound spiral to form a round roller with circumferential surface formed by points of wires that are ground to an even and round surface. Each food agitator 204 has bearings 205 at each end, which are preferably fixed to the under side of tray channel guides I!" by screws that pass through coun tersunk holes in channel guides. The food agitating action results from the movement of the food trays over the agitators which imparts a revolving motion to the agitators and forces the stainless steel wires up through the bottom of the open mesh wire screen food trays shown in Figures 22 and 23, thereby moving the food gently but a sufficient amount to prevent the food from freezing to the trays. It has been found that the food only requires such agitation or movement twice during the freezing process to effect the desired result, and when this freezing method is practiced in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4, it should be applied in compartments H and '74, when practiced in the apparatus shown in Figures 5 to '7, it should be applied in compartments I07, I08, HI and H2 and when practiced in the apparatus shown in Figure 8, it should be applied in compartments I43 and M4. The adaptor shown in Figures 15 to 21 has adjustable compartment recirculated air baffies 206 which are preferably made of sheet metal and fixed on one side to the bottom edge of tray guiding channel irons I91 by countersunk screws excepting the top bafile which is fixed to the top plate I66 in the same manner. The opposite side of bailie is supported and adjusted by machine screw studs 20'! with wing nuts 20! and lock nuts 209 shown in-Figure 20. Adjustable bames 2|! extend the fulllength of each recirculating air compartment except where they are cut away for the installation and operation of agitators 2M. Bames 206 are used for the purpose of foreing an economical quantity of the recirculated air up and down through the food on the produce tray by increasing or decreasing the openings 210 for passage of the recirculated air. The opening am being formed by the top of tray channel guides HI and bottom edge of adjustable bafiles 206. The quantity of recirculated air which can be economically forced through such foods as berries, peas, beans, com on cob, etc., varies considerably.. However, it is exceedingly important that the greatest quantity, consistent with economy, be forced through such foods in order'to produce the desirable results hereinafter described.

The food-trays illustrated in Figures 22 and 23 are used in conjunction with the adaptors shown in Figures 15 to 21, 24 and 25, and may be constructed of any suitable material as by heavy open mesh wire screen 2, formed as shown and reinforced around edges with sheet metal 2 l2, which is formed and pressed into position so as to provide a secure key bond between the screen 2 and the reinforcing sheet metal 2l2. Where tray contacts channel or angle iron tray guides in adaptors shown in Figures 15 to 21, 24 and 25, the sheet metal 2|2 extends under tray on two sides to make such contacts and to provide a smooth surface for the sliding of tray in tray guides.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 24 and 25 is a refrigerating tube adaptor for handling and refrigerating foods which are placed on trays and is used in conjunction with the apparatus hereinbefore described and shownin Figures '1 to 9, and comprises a welded structural steel frame consisting of top side angle irons 2l3, top end angle irons 2, top air directing plate 2l5, side ,angle irons 2I6, bottom side angle irons 2,

bottom end angle irons M8 and bottom air directing plate 2). Cross channels irons 220 are preferably welded to each bottom side angle iron and have four roller bearing steel wheels 22! which are preferably fixed to channels by bolts 7, and lock nuts. Two of the wheels on one end of theadaptor are swivel type as required for ease of handling and rolling of the adaptor, otherwise the wheels 22| are of the same design, arrangement, construction and used for the same purpose as the wheels ill as hereinbefore described in connection with the adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 21. The T iron guide slippers 222 are preferably welded to the top end angle irons 2H and run in the guide space formed between the two angle ironguides I28 shown in Figures 5 and 7, and may be operated in conjunction with the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4, 8 and 9-by uslngthe guide pieces I12 shown on adaptors in Figures 10 to 21. The compartment recirculating air baffle 223 which completely closes and seals one end of the adaptor coincides in alignment with the recirculating air baflles 25 and 26 shown in Figures 1 to 9. Each of these adaptors thereby forms the separate refrigerating compartments in the refrigerating tubes hereinbefore described and shown in Figures. 1,.- 4,.5, and 8. A bearing and pusher lug 224, preferably made of steel and welded to the bottom and angle iron 2l8, provides for contact with a pusher lug 225 preferably built the adaptors fill the refrigerating tube, each adaptor conveyed from the precooling compartment to the first freezing stage or compartment advances the adaptor in the food tempering compartment out from the refrigerating tube through the auto-close" type freezer doors III and III "shown in-Figure 5. The adaptors being initially shoved into the precooling compartment by hand.

The column of adaptors :within the refrigerating tube may also be advanced byhand shoving of the adaptor from the precooling compartment to the first freezing compartment, thereby eliminating the use of the pusher conveyor 45 and pit I, if this method of handling is preferable. Angle iron tray holding guides 22' are preferably fixed to side angle irons ill by screws which pass through slots 221 in side angle irons as required for adjusting the spaced relation of food trays shown in Figures 22 and 23. Adjustable recirculated air homes 228 are preferably made of sheet metal and fixed to the bottom side of tray guides by screws. The top baiiie being similarly fixed to top air directing plate 2l5. The adjustment of baffles 228 may be accomplished by a lock hinge or by. simply bending the sheet metal to the desired position as required for producing the air circulating condition hereinbefore described in connection with the baiiles 208 which are shown in Figures 15, 19, 20 and 21. The use of either type air baffle in either adaptor is contemplated and the adaptability for such use is believed to be obvious.

In practicing the refrigerating method and in the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in conjunction with the refrigerating tube adaptor shown in Figures to 21, the adaptor preferably in two sections is placed in the refrigerating tube with the sections joining in the center of the apparatus. The. adapter being guided at top by guide slot between guide lugs I12 into which the guide T iron 8 slides, and guided at the bottom by sides -of wheels I II which spams? and returned by gravitational effect for recirculation through the evaporating'coils II. Refrigerant accumulator 2| likewise separates and returns any free liquidref-rigerant in the return refrigerant suction gas, thereby assuring the return of a relatively dry refrigerant gas to the compressor. 1 l

Trays shown in Figures 22 and 23 are filled with foods and fed into the refrigerating tube by simply placing said trays with foods on the feeding angle iron tray guides Ill and shoving each tray forward into the tray channel-ironj guides III with the following tray. It is preferable-to have the length of each tray equal to the length of each refrgerating compartment 80 to," as formed by the recirculating air baiiies Ill; so that each tray will advance one refrigcrating stage or one compartment as each tray with food is fed into the refrigerating tube. when the first trays have all advanced into the the precooling compartment '68 and the following trays are in place on the feeding-angle iron tray guides Ill, the air recirculating fan II is started and trays with food are continually fed into the refrigerating tube at required intervals. When the trays with frozen or refrigerated foods appear on the angle iron tray guides I", located on the discharge end of the adaptor, they are removed, emptied and refilled with foods for a repetition of the cycle. The tray guides Ill located on the dischargeend of the adaptor are of the required length n to form a stop for each column of trays so that the trays being fedinto the adaptor need "only to be shoved against said stop in order to place all trays in each column in their proper position and in the longitudinalcenter of each refrigerating compartment.

travel on and are guidedby angle irons 44, so

liquid coilheaders II. The refrigerant gas being returned to the refrigerant compressor through the refrigerant gas coil headers l8, top sections of refrigerant recirculating pipes l9, refrigerant accumulator 20 and return suction connection 20a. It will be noted that the gas coil headers I! join the refrigerant recirculating pipes l9 above the refrigerant liquid levels which are maintained and controlled by the refrigerant float valves 22 at the point where they join the refrigerant recirculating-pipes. Thisarrangement permits the liquid refrigerant to be separated from the refrigerant return gas in the top sections of the refrigerant recirculating pipes I9 In practicing the refrigerating method with the refrigerating tube adaptor shown in Figures 10 to 14, in which round containers such as tin cans are used to hold the foods being processed, the adaptor would preferably be in two sections when'used in conjunction with the refrigeration apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The arrangement of the adaptor in the refrigeratin tube, application of refrigerating effect and air circulation is the same as hereinbefore described in connection with the use of the refrigerating tube adaptor shown in Figures 15 to 21. The round containers with food are shoved into apertures I" and are guided by the angle iron guides- "land I" on which the columns of containers roll. The stop rods I located on the dischargev end of the adaptor serve to center certain containers in relation to the recirculating air baffle I18 as required to air seal the refrigerating compartments 68 to 18 which are formed by the baflies I'll. Harvesting of the containers with frozen food is accomplished by lifting the rods I90 in slot I89 which releases the end container.

ing application entitled Method and apparatus.

for quick freezing, preserving and handling of comestibles," filed May 29th, 1937, Serial No. 145,620.

In practicing the refrigerating method with the refrigerating tube adaptor shown in Figures 24 and 25, in which the food trays shown in Figures 22 and 23 are used to hold the-foods being processed, the adaptor with food trays is used in multiple and arranged so that each.

adaptor with recirculating air baflle 223 forms one of the refrigerating compartments 88 to 18 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The refrigerating effect and air recirculation is applied in the same manner as before described in connection with and with recirculating air bailles 223 form the refrigerating compartments 68 to 18. The door 48 on the discharge end of the refrigerating tube is opened when the recirculated air is lowered to the required temperature, then the pusher conveyor 46 is started, which advances the column of adaptors to the adjacentrefrigerant compartment. This movement causes the adaptor in the food tempering compartment 11 to be discharged from the refrigerating tube and the adaptor in the food precooling compartment 58 to be advanced into the first freezing compartment 69. The door 48 on the discharge end of the refrigerating tube is then closed and the door 48 on the feeding end of the tube is opened so that the loaded adaptor with trays of food can be pushed into the food precooling compartment 68, after which the door 48 is closed. The discharged adaptor is then loaded with food in the manner above described and the discharging, loading and feeding cycle repeated at suitable intervals .as required to accomplish the desired treatment of the foods.

Inthe, preparation and handlingof such foods as cut corn, corn on the cob and the like, prior to freezing, it has been found that "the flexibility afi'orded in the use of the adaptor shown in Figures 24 and 25 permits this adaptor with trays to be utilized for the purpose of blanching and fore-coolingof such foods before freezing,

and to accomplish the three operations of blanching, forecooling and freezing without removing or rearranging such foods or trays.

The direction of the recirculated air flow in the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is indicated by arrows shown in Figure 1. The novel method employed for distributing the recirculated air consists of splitting the discharged air from the fan into two separate streams, one of which serves the food freezing compartments 69 to 12 and the other serves the food freezing compartr'nents 13 to 16. It will be noted that each air stream is cooled in two stages before being delivered to any one freezing compartment. For example: The air delivered to the first freezing compartment 69 is cooled in the air I cooling stages 52 and 53, air to compartment 10 is cooled in stages 54 and 55, air to .compartment II is cooled in stages 56 and 51, air to compartment 12 is cooled in stages 58 and 59 and is likewise cooled throughout the rest of the freezing compartments. The air fiow passages formed by the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces in each air cooling stage are restricted for the purpose of increasing the rate of heat transfer, also to increase the air velocity to a point consistent with an economical air flow resistance, which further increases the rate of heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces. The adaptors with foods are utilized to restrict the air fiow passages in each freezing compartment to accomplish the acceleration of heat transfer from the foods to the recirculated air, and to further increase this rate of heat transferffrom the foods to the recirculated air; adjustable air baffies 206 and 228 are provided in adaptors shown in Figures 15 to 21, 24and 25, for thepurpose of forcing the greatest economical quantity of air through the foodswhich are arranged on the trays shown in Figures 22 and 23. .Due to the peculiar arrangement of the air ducts and baflies, it will be further noted that the direction of the longitudinal flow of the air through the fre zing compartments 69 to 12 and l3jto 16 is reversed in respect to the directional fiow of the air in each adjacent freezing compartment, which automatically reverses the vertical directional flow of the air through the food trays, due to the peculiar arrangement fies 206 and 228. g

This method of air distribution greatly accelof the recirculated air baferates' heat transmission from the foods to they secondary heat transferring vehicle, which may be air or other suitable gas, and from the secondary heat transferring vehicle to the primary heat transferring vehicle, which may be ammonia or other suitable chemical. Moreover, the multistaging of these heat transfersmakes it possible to greatly reduce the temperature rise of the air during its passage over the foods in each freezing compartment. This condition permits the recirculated air to be held at the highest possible rel'ative humidity, which in turn reduces the amount of moisture evaporation from the foods to a minimum. To further this very desirable condition the air damper 40 is provided for the purpose of regulating the volume of air recirculated through the first four freezing compartments 69 to 12 so that the mean air temperature rise in these compartments will be approximately the same as that existing in the last four freezing compartments 13 to 16. It is well known that relatively warm foods will give off considerably more heat than partially frozen foods, which is principally due to the large temperature dif- V ference existing between such warm foods and the recirculated air as compared to the small temperature difference existing between partialthat the extended fin surfaces I6 are on wider spacing in the air cooling stages v52, 54,56 and 58, which reduces the air fiow resistance through the first four freezing compartments thereby Dermitting a larger volume of air to be circulated through these compartments while maintaining a balanced condition in the two recirculated air streams in respect to air fiow resistance.

The food precooling compartment 68 and food tempering compartment 11 have no forced air circulation, thus serving the additional purpose .of refrigerated air looks at each end of the' refrlgerating tube. It is believed obvious that this condition in conjunction with the balanced condition of the two recirculated air streams in respect to air flow resistance precludesfthe possibility of any warm outside air entering or mixing with the rerecirculated air streams used for freezing.

Foods are initially cooled in the food precooling compartment I by the extended refrigerant heat they are finally discharged from the apparatus.

The food tempering compartment I1 is likewise refrigerated by the extended refrigerant heat transferring surfaces II and I2. 1

From the foregoing it will be observed that the removal of the total heat required for freezm various kinds of foods to a desired temperature is accomplished in ten stages consisting of one precooling stage, eight, freezing stages and one temperingstage, and that the recirculated air used as 'a secondary heat transferring vehicle for freezing purposes is recooled by the primary refrigerant heat transferring surfaces in sixteen stages. In other words, each freezing stage or the total heat and promptly transfers this fractional amount of heat to'two air cooling stages beforesim'ilar heat transfer action takes place in the following stages, and that this heat transfer action occurs simultaneously in all eight freezing stages or compartments. The precooling and tempering'stages or compartments also remove their fractional part of the total heat and transfers same by convection to the primary refrigerant heat transferring surfaces. This novel heat transfer action in conjunction with the novel method of distribution and control of the physical' condition of the recirculated air permits a very close approach to that which is known to be an ideal condition for the preservation of foods by freezing.

Defrosting of the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces is rapidly and effectively accomplished by opening the defrosting valve 24 which is connected to the liquid refrigerant drain connections 23 and discharges to the. refrigerant storage receiver. Then by reversing the'refrigerants heat transferring cycle and utilizing the refrigerant condensing circulating water as a source of heat the refrigerant heat transfer surfaces will be 'rapidlydefrosted. This -operation consists of shutting'ofl thefrefrigerant liquid supply to the float control valves 2| by closing stop valve 22, open aliquid expansion valve and feed the refrigerant liquid to the refrigerant condenser while the condensing water is being circu-. lated through the condenser in the usual manner. Then open the hot gas discharge by-pass valve from the refrigerant compressor which discharges into the refrigerant suction connection 20a and close the suction valve to the compressor which serves connection 2, then open the by-pass refrigerant suction valve connecting the refrigerant condenser to the compressor suction. The condenser suction pressure should be maintained suillciently high so as to I compartment removes ,only a fractional part of g prevent any possibility of freezing the circulating water. This method of operation simply reverses the refrigerant: heat transferring cycle Iby utilizing the refrigerant condenser as a refrigerant evaporator and the refrigerant evaporator as a refrigerant condenser, thereby rapidly defro'sting the evaporator or refrigerant heat transferring surfaces II and I2. The water drip caused by defrosting is caught in drip pans 41 located under all refrigerant heat transferring surfaces which are easily removed and replaced as required for removing water.

While provisions are included for defrosting the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces as before described. it is to be understood that one of the important phases embodied in this invention is the combination of numerous conditions in conjunction with the novel arrangement which reduces frost accumulation on the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces to a minimum. In this connection. the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces are proportioned to maintain a very small mean temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the recirculated air temperature, the recirculated air temperature riseduring its passage through each freezing compartment is very small and these conditions reduce the evaporation of moisture from the foods to a minimum. The hermetically sealed casing II in conjunction with the arrangement of the recirculating air system precludes the possiblity of any warm outside air entering or mixing with the recirculated air.- If any such air found its way into the precooling or tempering compartments it would become dehumidifled by the relative low temperatures existing in these compartments and by contact with the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces. The restriction of air flow passages not only'results in a higher rate of heat transfer for any fixed air velocity but also creates a condition which makes it possible to maintain the recirculated air in a supersaturated condition, furthermore the restricted air flow passages with high air velocity provided in the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces serve to wear down and evaporate frost accumulations when the temperature difference between the recirculated air and the refrigerant is very small. For this reason the air cooling stages 52, I4, 58 and II have relatively wide spacing of extended Hm I, which induces frost to accumulate at these points where such accumulation will not materially eflect the efficiency of the recirculating airsystem. Note that the stages I2. ll. I! and II are in each instance the first refrigerant heat transferring surfaces tially contacted with the warmest air present in the first four freezing stages, which represents the warmest air in the recirculated air system due to the relative large temperature difference between the foods and recirculated air. It is be lieved that the foregoing explanations make it evident that a minimum of frost accumulation occurs on the refrigerant heat transferring surfaces used for cooling the recirculated air, and that such frost accumulation is deposited in a manner so'as to improve the efficiency of the refrigerating and air recirculating cycles.

The operationof the apparatus shown inFigure 4 in conjunction with any of the refrigerating tube adaptors shown in Figures 10 to 25 is the same as hereinbefore described for the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 

